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An automated method to detect and quantify fungiform papillae in the human tongue: Validation and relationship to phenotypical differences in taste perception

Eldeghaidy, Sally; Thomas, Daniel; Skinner, Martha; Ford, Rebecca; Giesbrecht, Timo; Thomas, Anna; Hort, Joanne; Francis, Susan

Authors

Daniel Thomas

Martha Skinner

Timo Giesbrecht

Anna Thomas

Joanne Hort



Abstract

Determination of the number of fungiform papillae (FP) on the human tongue is an important measure that has frequently been associated with individual differences in oral perception, including taste sensitivity. At present, there is no standardised method consistently used to identify the number of FP, and primarily scientists manually count papillae over a small region(s) of the anterior tip of a stained tongue. In this study, a rapid automated method was developed to quantify the number of FP across the anterior 2 cm of an unstained tongue from high resolution digital images. In 60 participants, the automated method was validated against traditional manual counting, and then used to assess the relationship between the number of FP and taste phenotype (both 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and Thermal Taster Status). FP count on the anterior 2 cm of the tongue was found to correlate significantly with PROP taster status. PROP supertasters (PSTs) had a significantly higher FP count compared with PROP non-tasters (PNTs). Conversely, the common approach used to determine the number of FP in a small 6 mm diameter circle on the anterior tongue tip, did not show a significant correlation irrespective of whether it was determined via automated or manual counting. The regional distribution of FP was assessed across PROP taster status groups. PSTs had a significantly higher FP count within the first centimetre of the anterior tongue compared with the PNT and PROP medium-tasters (PMT), with no significant difference in the second centimetre. No significant relationship was found with Thermal Taster Status and FP count, or interaction with PROP taster status groups, supporting previous evidence suggesting these phenomena are independent. The automated method is a valuable tool, enabling reliable quantification of FP over the anterior 2 cm surface of the tongue, and overcomes subjective discrepancies in manual counting.

Citation

Eldeghaidy, S., Thomas, D., Skinner, M., Ford, R., Giesbrecht, T., Thomas, A., …Francis, S. (2018). An automated method to detect and quantify fungiform papillae in the human tongue: Validation and relationship to phenotypical differences in taste perception. Physiology and Behavior, 184, 226-234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.003

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 3, 2017
Online Publication Date Dec 6, 2017
Publication Date Feb 1, 2018
Deposit Date Dec 11, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Physiology & Behavior
Electronic ISSN 1873-507X
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 184
Pages 226-234
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.003
Keywords Fungiform papillae, PROP, thermal taster status, tongue images, automated counting, colour segmentation
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/909058
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031938417304250

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